maranta

[ muh-ran-tuh ]

noun

1. any of several tropical American plants of the genus Maranta, including arrowroot and several species cultivated as ornamentals for their variegated foliage.

maranta

/ məˈræntə /

noun

1. any plant of the tropical American rhizomatous genus Maranta, some species of which are grown as pot plants for their showy leaves in variegated shades of green: family Marantaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of maranta¹

< New Latin (Linnaeus), after Bartolomeo Maranta (1500–71), Italian physician and botanist

Word History and Origins

Origin of maranta¹

named after Bartolomea Maranti, died 1571, Venetian botanist

Example Sentences

Out of thirty-six more or less known species of the genus Maranta, thirty at least are of American origin.

From Project Gutenberg

Maranta had studied in the private gardens formed by Pinelli at Naples.

From Project Gutenberg

Most of the arrow-root, the fecula of the Maranta arudinacea, sold by druggists, is a mixture of potatoe starch and arrow-root.

From Project Gutenberg

Others of more or less value are species of arrowroot (Maranta) and ginger (Zingiber).

From Project Gutenberg

Ten of the mixtures contained scarcely a particle of the genuine Maranta or West India arrowroot, for which they were sold.

From Project Gutenberg